[Football] Bryan Robson:"The greatest talent that England has ever produced"

[Bold Seagull]

Above average, but not much more. He also injured a lot of the time; he hardly played in the two seasons when United won the title.

He was 36 wasn't he by the time Fergie won his first MU title?

I'd judge him on his England career though, and he single handedly on many occasions dragged England into tournaments or raised their overall game. Think Beckham v Greece and this was Robson v many other teams on many occasions. The world cups in '86 and '90 could have been much different had his shoulder not given out in both tournaments. He was that good for England who knows if we'd gone on had he stayed fit. . If you think of how close those 2 knock out games were, think Robbo would have made the difference. We wouldn't have been watching Maradona leaving Peter Reid for dead ad-infinitum because there's no way Maradona is making that run from there with Robson in midfield.

 

[Bakero]

OK we'll leave it there

The earliest data I can find on physical demands on footballers comes from a study on Everton in the mid-70s. It found the average player ran 8.6km per game, with midfielders doing under 10k. Nowadays all players average over 10k and midfielders sometimes hit 13k in a game. The same study noted exercises to improve power or physical strength were entirely absent from training sessions.

A 2013 study revealed that Premier League players were running 30% further at higher intensity than they had been in 2006.

Just looking a photos of players now compared to 30 years ago shows you how much the game's changed.

 

[GREASED WEASEL]

Just looking a photos of players now compared to 30 years ago shows you how much the game's changed.

And not for the better

Zidane didn’t have to runaround like a headless chicken

 

[mejonaNO12 aka riskit]

So how many games did you go to the 1980's

To make you such an expert?

There's a reason world records are continually being set in sports.

Sports people are getting better at the sports.

The fact athletes/footballers etc are getting stronger, faster and more athletic can't really be argued. It's pretty obvious.

I imagine the above will be dismissed however as I was born in 1986.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

He was 36 wasn't he by the time Fergie won his first MU title?

I'd judge him on his England career though, and he single handedly on many occasions dragged England into tournaments or raised their overall game. Think Beckham v Greece and this was Robson v many other teams on many occasions. The world cups in '86 and '90 could have been much different had his shoulder not given out in both tournaments. He was that good for England who knows if we'd gone on had he stayed fit. . If you think of how close those 2 knock out games were, think Robbo would have made the difference. We wouldn't have been watching Maradona leaving Peter Reid for dead ad-infinitum because there's no way Maradona is making that run from there with Robson in midfield.

Maybe he did “single handedly on many occasions dragged England into tournaments” , I can’t remember any specific examples though, can you? This is more a reflection of my bad memory than the validity of your statement. This doesn’t make him England’s best midfielder. And beyond the qualifying games your case is based on supposition. Sadly, when the biggest games and periods of his United and England career presented themselves he was injured and not able to truly prove his ability; we will never know.

 

[GREASED WEASEL]

There's a reason world records are continually being set in sports.

Sports people are getting better at the sports.

The fact athletes/footballers etc are getting stronger, faster and more athletic can't really be argued. It's pretty obvious.

I imagine the above will be dismissed however as I was born in 1986.

Skill has something to do with it too

If Pascal Gross was as skilful as Johann Cruyff I'd agree with you

But he wasn't, not even close

 

[big nuts]

The best English midfielder I’ve ever seen in 35 years of watching football.

He played in a fairly average Man Utd side at times, and yet they still won plenty of trophies, many of which were down to him.

Such a rounded player, he could do pretty much anything and one of the few players of yesteryear, who wouldn’t look out of place in the game of today.

Quote below from Jimmy Greaves

“As a midfield player, Robson had everything – goals, passing, tackling, and a remarkable work-rate. Captain Marvel for Manchester United and England and a true leader who was brave to a fault, injuries prevented him from reaching a deserved century of England caps. The outstanding British footballer of the 1980s who stuck around to inspire United’s re-emergence as England’s top club side under Sir Alex Ferguson. His namesake Bobby Robson swore by him during eight years in charge of the national team, and judges don’t come any shrewder than Bobby and Fergie.”

 

[Bold Seagull]

Maybe he did “single handedly on many occasions dragged England into tournaments” , I can’t remember any specific examples though, can you? This is more a reflection of my bad memory than the validity of your statement. This doesn’t make him England’s best midfielder. And beyond the qualifying games your case is based on supposition. Sadly, when the biggest games and periods of his United and England career presented themselves he was injured and not able to truly prove his ability; we will never know.

I didn’t say he was England’s best, I was replying to your ‘above average’ - which if we’re talking supposition, is a far better example, or just plain bad memory / guesswork.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I didn’t say he was England’s best, I was replying to your ‘above average’ - which if we’re talking supposition, is a far better example, or just plain bad memory / guesswork.

?? I know you didn’t explicitly say this …..But my response was in the context of the original post ie him being England’s best. I said he is above average, but not best, in this context.

 

[Bold Seagull]

?? I know you didn’t explicitly say this …..But my response was in the context of the original post ie him being England’s best. I said he is above average, but not best, in this context.

I’ve never taken ‘above average’ to be much of a compliment…

Except form the wife of course.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I’ve never taken ‘above average’ to be much of a compliment…

Except form the wife of course.

I’m still aiming for above average….one day.

 

[e77]

Bit unfair to mark players of old down for their fitness as if they were around today they would have had access to the same training as today's players.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Bit unfair to mark players of old down for their fitness as if they were around today they would have had access to the same training as today's players.

Exactly, imagine how good Best would have been with the protection modern players get from officials and not having Chopper Harris trying to cut you in half.

 

[ManOfSussex]

We were poor in 82 when he played ... but yes maybe he'd have taken a pen instead of Waddle in 90. 86 we were going out in that QF whatever. Diego wasn't going to be denied

Played all 3 in Euro 88 as well......where England lost all 3.

 

[Bold Seagull]

Played all 3 in Euro 88 as well......where England lost all 3.

You could counter that with pre-Robson we failed to qualify for major tournaments and post Robson we failed to qualify for major tournaments…

 

[ManOfSussex]

You could counter that with pre-Robson we failed to qualify for major tournaments and post Robson we failed to qualify for major tournaments…

and with Robson we failed to qualify for Euro 84.

 

[Bold Seagull]

and with Robson we failed to qualify for Euro 84.

Yep, and the 2 crucial home games we dropped points in, 0-0 Greece and 0-1 Denmark, guess who was missing?

 

[ManOfSussex]

Yep, and the 2 crucial home games we dropped points in, 0-0 Greece and 0-1 Denmark, guess who was missing?

That's obviously because Sir Bobby Robson didn't possess the footballing genius of his successor to adapt to the situation and pick a team that can get the necessary result without Bryan Robson in it or had Carlton Palmer to call upon - I remember the clamour in the press before the game in Pozan in 1991 for the crucial Euro 92 qualifier against Poland - 'bring back Robson' 'Robbo's the man for the point in Poznan' etc - Graham Taylor held firm though and picked Geoff Thomas, Andy Gray and Andy Sinton in the starting XI and put Tony Daley on the bench as the midfield ace up the sleeve to terrify the Poles - end result was we're on our way to Sweden without Captain Marvel.

 

[Bold Seagull]

That's obviously because Sir Bobby Robson didn't possess the footballing genius of his successor to adapt to the situation and pick a team that can get the necessary result without Bryan Robson in it or had Carlton Palmer to call upon - I remember the clamour in the press before the game in Pozan in 1991 for the crucial Euro 92 qualifier against Poland - 'bring back Robson' 'Robbo's the man for the point in Poznan' etc - Graham Taylor held firm though and picked Geoff Thomas, Andy Gray and Andy Sinton in the starting XI and put Tony Daley on the bench as the midfield ace up the sleeve to terrify the Poles - end result was we're on our way to Sweden without Captain Marvel.

That all went well for him. Ended Lineker's career as well. What memories. 1994 world cup was fab as well without all the hassle of getting nervous about England playing...

 

[Is it PotG?]

He was delighted to meet me and shake my hand outside Old Trafford on Sunday, looked well too.